Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-10-12
The last Railroad Horror.

As stated in the GAzETTE's Geographic
dispatches yesterday the eust.bound express
on the Chicago and Atlantic Railroad was
run into near Konts, Ind, Monday night,
by freight train, wreckiDg the cars OF the
express train, which caught fire. Thirty
passengers were killed or burned to death,
and many others seriously injured.
The east-bound express which left Chicago
with heavy load of passengers, was, with.
out moments warning, during temporary
wait, run into from behind by loaded
fast freight, hurrying dressed meat to the
markets of the seaboard. Some part of the
machinery OF the passenger engine had been
thrown out of order. A trfiing stop at the
water-tsnk would make it all right. it was
thought. and the stop was accordingly made.
Suddenly out of the darkness behind came
the flash Of headlight, the rush and rattle
Of many wheels, and then mighty crash.
The massive framework OF the sleeper was
transformed into huge catapult. Pushed
merclessly forward by the freight, it crush
ed into the cars forward, smashing their
comparatively light timbers and making the
work Of destruction complete. The wreck
quickly took fire, and the sight of the
one never to be forgotten.
One of the injured passengers gives the
following account of the accident: II was
ia the passenger coach, which was next to
the last car in the train. Just before mid
night went into The smoker, which was
Just ahead of our car, and chatted for an
hour, and came back to the coach with a
young mar, who sat down near me. That
is the last I've seen or expect TO see Of the
poor fellow. Just as had stretched myself
out to go to sleep, and almost before l
closed my eyes, there was an awful crash,
which, God help me, 1 never want to hear
again / could feel myself thrown violent
" toward the top OF the car, and then l be-
came insensible. On the way up | realized
that all was confusion in the car; that
canes, valises, rods of iron and lamps were
in the air about me. must have regained
my consciousness in very short time, for
when awoke all WAS darkness in the Car
aud horrible ehrieks and piercing walls Of
agony almost deafened my ears. In the end
of the car farthest from me the stove was
overturned and the flames were just start.
ing to spread with great rapidity. There
WAS come sort of new gas lamp in the car,
with reservoirs reaching from one to
the other, and in less time than can tell it,
the gas was burning the whole length of the
coach over our heads. was wedged in be-
tween two seats where couldn't move
limb of my body, and there watched the fire
slowly creep upon me. Il was terrible
sight In the end of the coach near the
fire | could see lady caught between
the seats as 1 WAS. The fire slowly crept
across the car; she was soon enveloped in
flames, and then, in agony, she burned be-
fore my eyes, Just across from my seat l
noticed soon after the accident father, his
wife and daughter. / saw them, also, crush
cd together and burned Just as the flames
were blaziug foot or two away from me q
man pulled me into the aisle and said Come
to the window He must have mistaken
ne for some one else, for the moment he
had looked closely at my face he dropped
me, and hurried through the window with
an exclamation of evident Disappointment.
then painfully crawled after him in safety"